Spreading the Love

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Ok, if you couldn't tell I'm a crazy Halloween fan. Like whoa, crazy. It's my favorite time of the year and I just love all of the spooky feelings that come along with it. And the candy isn't half bad either. :) So expect to see me reading and reviewing a lot more horror this month (I have some backlog to get through so it won't be pure horror, unfortunately) and I plan on doing some horror-related posts, showing trailers to my favorite horror movies and a bunch of other spooky things! Wheeeeeee! I can't wait!

The other thing that's going on is that this post doubles as a MASSIVE Halloween giveaway post! And I mean massive. Throughout the month I'm going to be adding stuff to the trick or treat bag and one lone winner will get it all! Awesome, right? So let's get right down to business.

In the pumpkin pot so far*--

Books--

The Devouring by Simon HoltThirst, Number 1 by Christopher Pike (three books in one, The Last Vampire 1-3)A Teddy Scares mini comic book with a mini Teddy Scares teddy bear (linked so you know what it is)The Vampire Survival Guide by Scott BowenThe Werewolf's Guide to Life by Rich Duncan and Bob PowersZombies for Zombies by David P. MurphyGoosebumps - Monster Blood Collection by RL StineGoosebumps - Welcome to Dead House by RL StineThe Monster Book of Zombies edited by Stephen JonesDracula by Bram StokerThe New Vampire's Handbook by The Vampire Miles ProctorGhosts of Fear Street - Hide and Shriekand Who's Been Sleeping in My Grave? by RL StineThe Little Big Book of Chills and Thrills edited by Lena Tabori and Natasha Tabori FriedScary Stories Treasury by Alvin SchwartzSoulsticeby Simon Holt

DVDs--

HocusPocusThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the original)Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the original movie the series was based on)Ginger SnapsNear DarkSleepy Hollow (Johnny Depp version)The Lost Boys

*Check back often because I'll constantly be adding not only books but DVDs and random Halloween goodness!

What yousegots to do--

If you think the winner of this epic contest is going to win by posting an email alone, you're out of your mind. You guys are going to have to work for this one! In order to just get an entry, you have to post a comment with your email PLUS one of the following--

Give me a picture of you in a Halloween costume, at any age, it can be recent or a nice embarrassing one from when you were 2, whatever will do (and no half-assed costumes either! meaning so "sociopaths" in normal clothes, boo)

Write me a scary story, no more than 1000 words (and I mean scary! none of that high school vampire boys falling in love with plain Janes, how dull!)

Make me an eerie Halloween graphic (must be digital, using your program of choice)

Make something up! This one needs to get approved by me in order to be accepted but if you can come up with something to fill in a gap I have, go for it!

You MUST do one of the above in order to be considered for entry. You don't do it, you don't get entered. Period.

If you don't feel comfortable posting a link or story or whatever in the comments, then email me your entry but please note that everything I get sent will be posted on my blog! I want to share your horror with everyone so you go in knowing it'll get posted. If you don't want it posted, say so, otherwise I'll think you do and I will all of a sudden become deaf to any complaining.

On top of this big ass contest, I'll have winners in each category - best costume, best story, best drawing, best graphic and best miscellaneous - all determined by me. No random generators in this sub-category! Just an added bonus for some added prizes. :) (The grand prize winner will be exempt from winning the "best of" portion.)

Extra Entries

Gotta have those, right?

+10 for each extra requirement you do (say you send me a photo and write me a story, you get your entry plus 10 extra points, send in a drawing with all of that, +20, up to an extra 40 points dig?)

+10 for posting my Bites <3's Halloween banner on your blog for the month of October with a link to this contest

+3 for just linking to my contest (unlimited here, that's 3 points for each link you do, link away!)

+10 for having referred someone that signed up for the contest (meaning you can't just say you referred someone, that person actually must complete the requirements to enter the contest)

I may add more as my sieve of a brain thinks of them so you must, must, must check back often! Not just for that but to see all the fun stuff I'll be adding to the pot!

Just one last reminder - your entry WILL NOT count unless you complete one of the 5 requirements listed above. Do all the extra entries you want, it won't matter. Complete the requirement or your tally gets disqualified. I told you all you'll have to work for this one and I mean it!

If any of this is at all unclear or you have any questions, speak up! I'll answer.

Contest is open to US residents only and ends at midnight, EST on October 31st. Good luck!

49 comments:

Howdi Donna :) well, I'm with you per the Halloween thing! I LUVS LUVS LUVS anything spooky, and here is a horror story I wrote from my blogsitehttp://maryanndeborde.blogspot.com/2009/08/lucifers-tales-buried-house.htmlI'm not much good at the linky thing so hope this works and is acceptable? Most of my blog revolves around spooky stuff I love to write, especially my Vampire Emial series. And I'd LOVE to post your Halloween Bash 3 on my blogs, not sure how to do it though (am SOOOO tech-impaired lol), but if you can tell me how it's done I'd love to do so :)

+10The scariest thing that has ever happened to me (truth):I used to work at a video store. It's a few minutes after closing time, and I am the only one in the store. The lights are all off, and I am ruhning (on the computer) the end of day report which typically takes about 12 minutes to print out. Okay. So, while this is printing out, I am half laying on the floor behind the counter with the cd player going playing some Led Zepplin softly, but other than that and the printer running, there is no noise. When SUDDENLY I hear (just a few feet from where I am on the other side of the counter) a group of laughing, giggling kids come in the front door. I am thinking s++t, we're closed man! I shut off the cd player then.So as I get up off the floor to tell the little stinkers we are closed, I see one of the kid's go past the counter top, just barely above eye level - the top of a blond head going past (if that makes sense).So I stand up to tell them they'll have to leave, when it HITS ME! THERE IS NO ONE THERE!!!! Now, while I'm not one who is easily scared (by the living OR the dead lol) ... the eerie silence, stillness almost freaked me out.Nothing. No one. What or whom where the kids I just SAW and heard? They were already INTO the store and it had only taken me just a moment to get up. There was no way, no time, etc for anyone to have gone back out.I learned later that I was NOT the first one to have heard children laughing in the store when the help was alone.

I just realized my story post is probably over the 1000 word count (drat and double drat). So here is a Halloween quickie I just wrote instead :)

+10THE BEST PART OF WAKING UP:You know it's not going to be a 'good day' when you wake up inside a coffin.

My first clue comes when I go to stretch, and my arm is stopped short by a hard, unforgiving surface just inches from my face. That is when I panic. You cannot imagine what the panic is like, the desperate gasps for air, the squirming, the struggle for freedom ...

Little by little, as slow realization overcomes your sleep-drugged senses, you first scratch, then claw, your whimpers turn to screams.

And there is no one to hear. No one to release you from your satin prison.Insanity wars with resignation, resignation resigns itself to cold, clear-headed logic, ... only for the cycle to repeat itself endlessly.

I hate it.

See, this is the dirty little secret of vampires everywhere. The secret no one likes to talk about. The one nasty little ugly we keep quiet from the living. Our little place in Hell we rarely mention, but must visit every sundown.

We forget. For just a few moments (and, trust me ... those few moments are an eternity unlike any other) ... we FORGET all that has preceded us, and must begin again. For just a little while. Until our undead consciousness finds its place once more.

See, and though I never paid that much attention in school, it seems that the body consciousness (the brain - for all your dimwitted mortals) dies along with the body. The brain, of course, is where memory once resided. Yet, and this so sux, with the brain ... how shall I say this? ... no longer the captain of this undead ship, we vampires don't have access to yesterday's events in the same way that YOU have. We have to wait suffer linger until our soul consciousness kicks in.

And that can feel like a mighty long wait.

This lapse is what truly makes us vulnerable to you silly, stupid mortals. Otherwise we'd tear your lily white throats to shreds when you dared to disturb our slumber.

Once in a while, the fear is so great, I will actually wet myself. And you haven't lived, my peeps, until you've peed blood. Literally. Think they'll be making Depends for that one anytime soon?

So forgive me if I'm a little bad tempered today. I woke up on the wrong side of the wood. TODAY took me a little longer than usual to remember who I was and where I was.

Forgive me for lunging at your throat.

But I'm usually better tempered once I've had breakfast. Nothing like a McMortal to start the day, I always say.

+10 scariest thing to happen: In my apartment one night, I heard some noises but was too scared to my room. In the morning, I got up and saw that the bar in my sliding glass window had been knocked down somehow and the door was partially unlocked. I never knew if the bar had slid down and unlocked the door of if someone was trying to break in, but it sure freaked me out!

+3 My fave horror book is IT by Stephen King (it scares the bejeezus outta me)

+10 The scariest thing that ever happened to me was when I was 14 my cousin and I were walking to a pet store and we were chased by a gang. We had to run across a busy highway (I almost got hit by a car) to make it to a shopping center where there were people. I had never run so fast in my life. My cousin fell and before he could get up one of the gang members jumped him and had a knife to my cousin's back. Luckily some people chased them away and my cousin was fine.

I love Halloween and this contest is AMAZING!! So much to do, so much to do... I'll start with the basics and get the rest to you later.

+3 added to sidebarwww.wrightysreads.blogspot.com+5 already follow+3 the original Halloween movie is the grand-daddy (OK, one of 'em) of them all and it scared the crap out of me, especially watching it at the drive-in. The Shining made me squirm too.+10 the scariest thing that ever happened to me was when our parked van that was turned off slipped out of gear and rolled down a hill with my kids in it and me only 20 feet away. (they were fine, I had a heart attack)The scariest creepy kind of scary was when we were staying at my mom's with our two babies and she woke us up to say that someone had been in the yard. We weren't sure if she had really seen someone but then we saw a dark figure with a hood up and a mask go into our garage. My hubby got a gun for protection and we called the police. We waited quietly in the house until they came and opened the garage door. The guy in the mask burst out and tackled a cop! They wrestled with him before they finally were able to handcuff him. They pulled off the mask (just like in the movies!) and we saw that it was a young man we knew who used to live nearby. He was drunk and stealing things from garages. He went to jail. I wanted to kill him for what he put us through!+3 I follow and have you on my blogroll so I saw the contest there.

Ok, here goes...I emailed some pics to you, if I can figure out how to post them on my blog, I will do so. +10 I posted your Halloween banner @ http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/+3 posted on my sidebar+5 follower+3 moy favorite scary movie is Poltergeist (still scares the %$*# out of me.+10 The scaries thing that ever happened to me was ...I used to commute to school, 30 minutes through wooded PA. I was driving home late one night when my car broke down in a really creepy, dark place. I did not have a cell phone and the nearest house was quite a distance away. Needless to say my imagination got the best of me. I was scared to death of what was in the woods. It was a long hike to the next house, but I made it. +3 I found out about this contest by following your blog!

Yay, you got my pics. After several attempt I got my artwork to post. I didn't want to post it alone, so I included a post about your contest. Here's the direct link http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/2009/10/massive-halloween-contest-bites.htmlSo that should give me+10 for extra requirement+5 actual post

Donna, I wrote you a story. I am pretty sure it is not going to be scary enough, although nothing sparkles (lol). It centers around my fear of being chased and someone trying to hurt my kids. The really scary part comes from me actually posting it on my blog. I am just glad I am not sitting in front of you, at least I can hide behind my monitor. But A for error, right?Elie (Ellz Readz)zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

+10 The scariest thing that's ever happened to me was when I was in probably the sixth grade. My friend and I were trying to summon her dead grandfather. We'd given up and were walking out of the room. She was in front of me and no one was behind me. I felt someone tap me on the shoulder as clearly as if it were another person. I screamed, we ran, it was fun. lol

Hi Donna :) I emailed you a freaky graveyard "orb" picture I took this evening while out ghost hunting - since I thought real life "Ghost Hunting" stuff might be kinda fun!Hope it counts for the "fill in the blank" entry hehe

O M G .... Using Adobe I drew my very first graphic, so here it is at:

http://maryanndeborde.blogspot.com/

Up top on the right side bar, (MONSTERS' HALLOWEEN BALL) but I will also try to email it to you as I am so new at this and not at all sure if I'm doing this correctly :)Wow - this was hard (for an old fart), like trying to draw on an etch a sketch ... don't know how my son does so well with this stuff lol+10 Graphic

-favorite horror movie/book/etc.? I really liked this book Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. She has another called Dark Places too that was good.

-scariest thing that has happened to me?

Honestly, not much. I tend to just get freaked by stories. My cousins pointed a red laser in a dark bathroom mirror and told me about bloody mary when i was little. I was sooo freaked out by that story from then on and had like extreme fears of my bedroom mirror and stuff. It still freaks me out. hah

"Do you really think this is going to be scary?" Kezley scoffed as they waited in line for the town's haunted house. Flipping her blond hair, she gazed around at her fellow neighbors and classmates, wondering why she'd come in the first place.

Everyone had been telling her all month that she better show up or nobody would vote for her as prom queen. A known hater of the fall carnival, she swallowed her pride and went with her boyfriend who found the whole thing hilarious and seemed intent on making her be scared.

"They normally grab you, with all their fake blood you know?" her boyfriend, Andy, noted.

"What?" she gasped. "They can't touch you, can they?"

Kez peered wearily ahead of her, stomach flipping as she saw their group was next.

One by one though, the few people in front of her began to leave the line, heading away. Kezley glanced around, confused, but was pushed to the entrance by her boyfriend.

"What's going on?" she asked but he merely shrugged and gave her a wicked grin.

"Maybe they got scared and pissed their pants," he replied. "No more questions, it's our turn."

Kezley slowly approached the entrance and disappeared inside the dark building. She looked behind her but Andy was nowhere in sight.

She jumped and hurried along the hall hoping this wouldn't last long. She went through doors, up and down stairs, until she had no clue where in the house she actually was but wishing silently that the exit would loom before her soon.

Suddenly, she heard steps behind her and she let out a deep breath, feeling safer.

"Who's there?" she asked. "Is that you Andy? Where have you been?"

Nobody answered.

"Andy, come on!" Kezley yelled starting to get angry.

She turned around and headed towards the steps, ignoring the fake blood and random signs all around the house. It had stopped freaking her out after a few minuters, making her wonder why everyone liked this house so much. It was just gross and really hot, but not as creepy as she'd feared.

"Who's there?" she repeated, glancing from left to right so she wouldn't miss someone in the darkness, figuring they were playing a trick on her.

Just as she was about to give up and continue on, an arm reached out behind her, pulling her arm until her whole body slammed against the wall. Head stinging, she looked around the room but didn't see anyone. Feeling a little more scared, she began to run down the hall, opening doors and screaming out for help.

Relief flooded through her after a few minutes when she entered a room and saw a door ahead, light from outside streaming through the bottom of the door. Hearing faint voices, she quickly crossed the room, hand outstretched towards the doorknob.

She grabbed the handle and pulled, but nothing moved. Looking around for something blocking the door, she kept tugging to no avail.

"No, it can't be locked..." she muttered.

She turned around to find another way out when she saw a shadow enter the darkened room.

"Wh-who are you?" she asked, shaking slightly. "Is that you, Andy?"

The body, wrapped in a long black robe, moved steadily closer to Kezley as she pressed her back against the dark door.

The figure stopped in front of her, his arm reaching around her neck and pulling her face closer.

"Yes, it's me," the voice whispered.

"Andy," Kezley whispered, practically deflating in relief. "I'm so glad you're here. How do we get out?"

Andy raised a hand and pointed to the door. Kezley turned her head to see where he aimed and gasped when the knife sunk into her chest, right in her heart.

Slowly, her legs gave out and she fell into a crumble at the bottom of the door.

Oh, I meant to get these to you so much sooner... I have two drawings (though it's fine if only one is counted, I just wanted to share both), and I have the pic of me I mentioned earlier. I am going to post them on my blog and link to them, since I don't think I can leave a pic in a comment box...So...+10 halloween costume picture+10/+20 for halloween drawings+3 sidebar link+5 follower+3 fave Halloween movie is and always will be the ultimately cheesy Killer Klowns from Outerspace, followed by the nearly as cheesy Pumpkinhead.+3 found out because I am a follower and actually read the blog!All of the goodies and the sidebar link are @ Book Rat

I'm not pretending to lay claim to any image used on this site that isn't of my own making and/or rightfully paid for. All copyrights remain with their respective owners for said images while my words remain mine. No money has been made as a result of the creation of this website but my bank account has suffered a slow leak due to the likes of BEA, various shipping needs and site design, among other things.